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Letters by Staff and Supporters

As a sign of appreciation to our friends and supporters, we like to highlight the letters sent to us requesting clemency or addressing the topic of abolition in Alabama, here you will find many of those we have received.

As I am sure you know the State of Alabama is set to execute Mr. Tommy Arthur on March 29, 2012. I am writing to ask that you grant Mr. Arthur clemency. You have it within your power as the Governor of the State of Alabama to do so. It would be a legal, fair and reasonable use of the power given to you. I hope that you will use it.

From Gary Drinkard, member of Witness to Innocence, while on Alabama's death row member of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty, since his release member of our Advisory Board:

Our justice system has a name ----SATAN----and it is stealing souls daily leaving blood on most Americans' hands, even the ones that don't support capital punishment. It breeds hate into loving families, it destroys the innocent lives of children on both sides of the issue, the victims as well as the families of the perpetrator,,,,,,We must stop this insane monster!!!!!!!!!!

I am writing to ask you to commute the death sentence of Christopher Johnson, who is scheduled for execution on October 20, 2011. You have a tremendous opportunity to offer unsolicited mercy, as it is evident that Mr. Johnson will not be requesting clemency.

I write you with an urgent plea--please delay the September 22nd execution date for Derrick O’Neal Mason.

As you know, DerrickMason’s case has some of the same legal issues which will be argued before the U. S. Supreme Court on October 4th regarding Alabamian Cory Maples’ case. Surely we must not hasten to kill someone when there is the possibility new light will be shed on his case through federal litigation regarding another case.

As Governor, you are an extremely valuable component of the justice system. You contribute compassion and grace to a system that is often unable to consider both. You have a tremendous responsibility of deciding whether to modify sentences when they do not serve the public interest or meet evolving standards of decency, or whenever the exercise of merciful intervention seems appropriate and just. I come to you now pleading for the life of Derrick O’Neal Mason, who is scheduled to be executed on September the 22nd.

On Thursday, June 16, 2011 the State of Alabama will execute a mentally retarded man. Eddie Duval Powell has been on death row in Alabama since 1998 for the assault and murder of 79 year old Mattie Wesson of Tuscaloosa. The crime was truly horrific in nature. Mrs. Wesson was robbed, assaulted, and shot multiple times. Even so, Mr. Powell’s execution raises questions of justice and our understanding of mental retardation.